NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION IN WRITING FROM THE PUBLISHER

The characters, places, incidents and situations in this book are
imaginary and have no relation to any person, place or actual happening

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NUMBER: 58-13083

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

To my wife

because, in twenty years together, the longest days I've ever spent were those when we were not together

The Black Fawn

chapter 1

Evening shadows lowered like a cool, dark wing folding gently over the day, but the coming of night brought no change in the refrain that over and over again kept running through Bud Sloan's brain.

"I must not let them know I'm afraid. I must remember my manners. I must not let them know I'm afraid! I must remember my manners! I must not . . ."